Results 61-80 of 7,025 for speaker:John Brady

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 Apr 2024)

John Brady: 10. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application (details supplied) will be expedited given the applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18295/24]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (23 Apr 2024)

John Brady: 13. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality what plans are in place to deal with the ending of the Temporary Protection Directive in March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9687/24]

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: I welcome Mr. McCarthy and his colleagues. I want to focus on the handling of what seems to be a shambolic approach to the whole immigration system and the provision of accommodation. When I say a shambolic approach, that is certainly what it is from Government level right the way down. What is needed is a fair, efficient and enforced immigration system with proper communication with...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: The fact is that I, as a public representative, and the community were lied to. Clearly, a decision had been taken to use that premises for accommodation. We were lied to right up until the last minute. The work was being carried out on the ground. We were misled as public representatives.

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: I do not want to labour the point, but------

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: -----can Mr. McCarthy see the difficult position it puts public representatives in when we are looking to bring communities with us in what needs to be done?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: This mismanagement is at a basic level of communication. People are being lied to from the get-go and something is happening on the ground. I will finish on this point. What does assessment mean? I am aware of the engagement between the Department and other Departments looking for space or premises. What assessment took place in that situation or in any other location where...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: Unfortunately, I have heard that mantra from the top, the Minister, the Taoiseach, the former Taoiseach and right the way down, that the Government will tighten up on communication and engagement, but the reality on the ground is completely different and it is causing huge tensions in communities, which makes integration at the end of it almost impossible. We are creating fires in...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: Communication is key. I mean no disrespect to Mr. McCarthy. I know he is here to do a job and tell us what is happening, but I have been raising communication for six months or more and been told that different things are happening in the Taoiseach's office with communication and co-ordination, but none of it is happening. It is creating chaos in communities.

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: Okay, I am sorry; I am conscious of time. Regarding community audits, before a decision is taken to open an accommodation centre in a community, what is done to engage with the HSE about access to GPs and dentists? Are any audits being carried out in communities?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: I am conscious of------

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: I acknowledge that good work is being done at different levels. However, when it goes wrong, it goes wrong. The case in Wicklow currently on the ground went wrong from the get-go. I will touch on the numbers of people who have come to the State and are currently in the process of applying for asylum. What are the up-to-date figures? Do the witnesses have those?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: Yes, the number of people who are currently seeking international protection to whom we are providing accommodation.

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: That more or less corresponds with the figures I have. I have done a rough calculation that is not too far off the figures Mr. Delaney gave. More than 10,800 people who have claimed asylum have been waiting for a decision for 16 months or more. What is the average time for a decision to be taken in the witnesses' experience?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: I am aware of that, but it has a huge impact on the provision of accommodation.

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: The figures I have are that more than 30% have been in the process for 16 months or more. That is not efficient. That is what is creating the bottlenecks in the system causing the Department to try to source accommodation in areas that are not fit-for-purpose. It is because the system is not efficient.

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: That is not in all cases. How many of those in the system who are being provided accommodation have been granted asylum?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

John Brady: It is 5,700.